FeNiCo|MnGaO<sub>x</sub> Heterostructure Nanoparticles as Bifunctional Electrocatalyst for Zn−Air Batteries
Liuxiong Luo, Yuren Liu, Siyu Chen, Qinwen Zhu, Di Zhang, Yue Fu, Jiaqi Li, Jianling Han, Shen Gong
Abstract
Abstract Driven by the pressing demand for stable energy systems, zinc−air batteries (ZABs) have emerged as crucial energy storage solutions. However, the quest for cost‐effective catalysts to enhance vital oxygen evolution and reduction reactions remains challenging. FeNiCo|MnGaO x heterostructure nanoparticles on carbon nanotubes (CNTs) are synthesized using liquid‐phase reduction and H 2 calcination approach. Compared to its component, such FeNiCo|MnGaO x /CNT shows a high synergistic effect, low impedance, and modulated electronic structure, leading to a superior bifunctional catalytic performance with an overpotential of 255 mV at 10 mA cm −2 and half‐wave potential of 0.824 V ( ω = 1600 rpm and 0.1 m KOH electrolyte). Moreover, ZABs based on FeNiCo|MnGaO x /CNT demonstrate notable features, including a peak power density of 136.1 mW cm −2 , a high specific capacity of 808.3 mAh g Zn −1 , and outstanding stability throughout >158 h of uninterrupted charge−discharge cycling. Theoretical calculations reveal that the non‐homogeneous interface can introduce more carriers and altered electronic structures to refine intermediate adsorption reactions, especially promoting O* formation, thereby enhancing electrocatalytic performance. This work demonstrates the importance of heterostructure interfacial modulation of electronic structure and enhancement of adsorption capacity in promoting the implementation of OER/ORR, ZABs, and related applications.